08KUWAIT990

VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #0990 2611510
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171510Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2140
INFO RUEH JM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 1357
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3198

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000990

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA
E . O . 12958: N/A

TAGS: EAID KPAL PGOV PREL IS KU

SUBJECT: AD-Hoc Liaison Committee Meeting: GoK views
REF: SECSTATE 97393

IQ. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 4.

1.2 . (SBU) On September 17, Ecouns talked to Ambassador Jassim
Al-Mubaraki, the Director of the MFA's Arab World Department.

Mubaraki confirmed that the GOK had received an invitation from
Norway to attend the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting in New
York on September 22, though he noted that the GoK had received the
invitation "rather late" and he would not be able to attend,
himself. Mubaraki told Ecouns that he had already forwarded the
information and supporting documents to the Foreign Minister ' s
people in Washington, and that he hoped either the FM would attend
or designate someone to attend the meeting. As the Foreign Minister
was already scheduled to be in New York, Mubaraki stated his belief
that he would attend the meeting. The information that Secretary
Rice would be heading the U.S. delegation was an added positive
factor in this regard. He promised to try and call the Foreign
Minister to pass on USG interest.

1.3. (SBU) Ecouns briefed Mubaraki on US goals for the AHLC, thanked
him for Kuwait's recent donation of $80 million and urged the GoK to
consider shifting the remainder of its $300 million in development
assistance to budget assistance. Mubaraki stressed the GoK ' s
interest in supporting the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority. With regard to the $300 million, he stated that the GoK
believed that it would be best used for development projects to
directly improve the lives of the Palestinian people. That said, he
noted the GoK was flexible and if the USG and others were convinced
that budget support was a more important and urgent priority, they
should make the argument to the Foreign Minister. If he was
convinced, he could then take it up with the Prime Minister and the
Amir. Mubaraki suggested that Secretary Rice raise the issue with
the Foreign Minister personally, while he was in Washington.

Mubaraki did say that, since the GoK had Parliamentary approval for
the $300 million Paris Donors pledge, he did not think that
reprogramming it for budget support would require National Assembly
concurrence .

1.4. (SBU) Action Request: Post suggests that -- at a senior level --

Department officials take advantage of the presence of the PM and FM
in Washington on September 18 and 19 to make the case for
Palestinian Authority budget support directly to them. End Action
Request .

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http : //www. state . sgov . gov/p/nea/kuwait/ cables
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http : //www. state . sgov . gov/p/nea/kusait/

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